2/24/12

Well, with this less than fruitful winter we've been having, with a mtn bike in desperate need of freshy bits and no desire to layer up for road warrioring in the crispFebruary breeze, it was back to the trout stream.

Besides, I had a new stick to break in. Saturday was sunny and breezy, not exactly ideal for fishing tiny blue winged olives on the Letort, but what else ya gonna do? Did see a few bugs in the air, saw all of four rises all day along with some small black stones flitting about. So I played a hunch and got lucky, prospecting the water with a buggy looking black caddis imitation.Managed to bring one to hand, not exceptional regarding the size, but at least I didn't get skunked with the new rod.

Sunday was similar, but without thebreeze and much more relaxed mindset.Used the new stick again, a 7'6"/4wt by Matt Schliske from Colorado and really fell for the rod. It handled the breeze surprisingly well on Saturday, and in the calmer Sunday air, it did everything I asked. The calmer air helped keep the bugs on the water and I found a bit more success out in the Letort meadows.Brought a bunch to hand on dries, and one nice healthy 15"er on a bwo nymph. It's been neat to fish this stream more in the winter, seeing it in a season when I usually don't. Quite the interesting place, lots to soak in out there.

2/6/12

With this wonderful ski season we're having, had to scratch one of the other itches. Pickedup the new license, played a hunch with theforecast and rigged up for a session of harassingze trouts of the Letort.

Weatherman was right, my beta was slightly off.Twas low 40's and overcast, with some actual snowflakes falling now and then and blue winged olives started doing their thing around lunchtime.Beta I had indicated an earlier start to the hatch, glad I stuck around beyond the expected timeframe.

Snuck thru the rabbit hole and onto one of my favorite beats and was immediately fishing over a big old brown that was out on the prowl. That old fish was pushing 20" and between the nerves and 3 month break from the water, it didn't take long to flub that chance and persuade that troutto seek better cover.

Changed meadows, then the bugs finally started popping and the trouts went on the feed. Opened the hatch with a missed take, stung him, but the rust was showing. My casting was off, presentations were lacking, but finally duped a little 7"er and brought him to hand. Found the groove andhooked another before missing his neighbor.Took a breath and tossed the little #20 olive to a dimple out there in mid stream. A subtle takeand was finally into a fish with some weight. Aftera lively tussle, I brought this nicely colored 12"er to the net. Sweet.

Still had time before needing to get home, so moved a few paces upstream, fishing to a riser in close withno success. Noticed an occasional rise furtherupstream and out in the channel a bit. Let it settle then made a decent enough cast up into the vicinity. There was another subtle slurp on that first drift and suddenly found myself connected to a substantial tug on the line. A brief battle with the 5wt cane and I landed one of the finest Letort browns I've ever fooledwith a dry fly. This nice 15-16"er was a helluva way to open the account for the new year, sure hope it continues in this fashion...